Volume 1

Second report.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on the State of Large Towns.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Second report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/518 (page 21)
    Acts appear to have been framed more with reference to the Drainage. means of traffic in the streets, and the general convenience of the inhabitants, than with any regard to their health. An instance of the extent to which these deficiencies of le- gislative powers prevail, even in towns which have long been the resort of the wealthy and luxurious classes, is presented in the city of Bath.* We there find that— “ The Commissioners for the outpart of the parish of Walcot have power, under a local Act, to order the construction of new sewers and the alteration and reparation of old ones when they see occasion: their power extends over about a fourth or fifth of the city. There is no such power vested in any body for the remainder of the city.” In the city of Gloucester, although there are three Acts of Parliament in force for the local goverment of that city, none of them apply to the sewerage or drainage, which is in a most neglected state. We have thus brought under notice some examples of the serious evils explained in our First Report, and refer, as fur- ther evidence, to the replies received from the towns visited, and the several Reports of the Commissioners. To remedy evils of such magnitude, and so extensively prevalent, we are of opinion—That new legislative mea- Necessity for the 1 1 amendment of the SURES, APPLICABLE TO ALL TOWNS AND POPULOUS DISTRICTS, law. ARE REQUIRED, FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE NOT ONLY OF AN EFFICIENT AND ECONOMICAL SYSTEM OF HOUSE DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE, PAVING AND^CLEANSING, IN ALL TOWNS AND POPULOUS DISTRICTS, BUT ALSO FOR PROVIDING AMPLE SUPPLIES OF WATER FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PUR- POSES, AND FOR THE ADOPTION OF OTHER MEANS FOR PRO- MOTING AND SECURING THE HEALTH AND COMFORT OF THE INHABITANTS. In considering the principles upon which a measure such Review of the as we have just recommended should be based, it will be A^Ts'nnd eHi'ch*1 convenient, first, to review the operation of the existing local mmis°tratk)n.ad Acts for drainage, and the efficiency of the local authorities intrusted with their administration. The powers given by local Improvement Acts are usually Constitution of 1 J -iiiii i f'le existing local vested in a body of Commissioners, either elected by the rated authorities, inhabitants, or appointed by name in the Act, with a power to nominate their successors. The latter mode of appoint- ment more frequently obtains in the older Acts of Parliament, the principle of legislation of the present day has caused the * Evidence of the Town Clerk, Report on Bath, Second Report, vol. i-